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Madikwe Game Reserve South Africa: Malaria Free Safari Holidays Sun City

History & Culture: South Africa, Safari Holiday - Soweto + Johannesburg + Cape Town

South Africa: Johannesburg + Waterberg Safari + Cape
SPK12J
12 NIGHTS
FROM $3,585
Per person sharing
Flights quoted separately
History Culture South Africa Safari Holiday Soweto Johannesburg Cape Town

Explore the history & culture of South Africa - both ancient & modern - on this privately guided safari holiday that will allow you to experience the art, music & fashions of Soweto, Johannesburg & Cape Town. Visit the Sterkfontein Caves, Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela's home in Soweto, District Six & Robben Island. Also enjoy a Big Five safari. All transfers, game drives & sightseeing included.

History Culture South Africa Safari Holiday Soweto Johannesburg Cape Town
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History & Culture of South Africa
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Soweto & Johannesburg
• 
Apartheid Museum & Soweto
• 
Cradle of Humankind & Lesedi
• 
Art, Music, Fashion & Design
• 
Safari Holiday, Entabeni
• 
Cape Town
• 
Table Mountain
• 
Robben Island & District Six
• 
Cape Point
• 
History & Culture of South Africa
• 
Soweto & Johannesburg
• 
Apartheid Museum & Soweto
• 
Cradle of Humankind & Lesedi
• 
Art, Music, Fashion & Design
• 
Safari Holiday, Entabeni
• 
Cape Town
• 
Table Mountain
• 
Robben Island & District Six
• 
Cape Point
Day 1
You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred to your hotel in this thriving city.
    
Check in and relax under warm blue South African skies in the city of gold.
Day 2
Today enjoy a full day private tour to Soweto. With a population of well over one million people, this sprawling township was made famous by the apartheid laws.
 
We drive past the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere and down Vilikazi Street, which was once home to two Nobel Peace laureates - Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Nelson Mandela. Here we visit Mandela's house, which is now a small museum.
 
After lunch (own account) we continue to the Apartheid Museum, which is a living memorial to racial segregation, before returning to Johannesburg in the late afternoon.
 
Note: The Apartheid Museum is only open Wednesday to Sunday. Time permitting, you can adapt your tour to include a visit to Constitution Hill (the site of the Old Fort Prison, where Mandela was first imprisoned) and/or his last home in Houghton, where his Nobel prize is on display (pay these entrance fees locally).
Day 3
Today is free to explore the art galleries, fashion and design, or music scene of the trendy city of Johannesburg with a private guide (let your guide know your preferences in advance - pay any entrance fees locally).
 
You can visit art galleries such as the Goodman Gallery, Everard Read and Gallery MOMO to discover new talent - and perhaps find a painting or sculpture that will forever remind you of a fabulous holiday.
 
You can also visit Sandton and Melrose Arch, both offering a wide range of local African designer boutiques and fabulous restaurants to bring your senses to life. In the evening, enjoy the music and night life of this vibrant city.
Day 4
Today your guide will introduce you to some of South Africa’s greatest archaeological treasures, on a visit to the Maropeng Visitor Centre near the Sterkfontein Caves - a World Heritage site dating back billions of years. Dr Broom found the skull of 'Mrs Ples' in these caves, the most complete skull of an Australopithecus africanus ever found in South Africa.
 
In the afternoon we continue to Lesedi, an authentically reconstructed African village showcasing the culture, arts and crafts of South Africa’s five main tribes. Enjoy an included meal at Lesedi, a visit to a sangoma (traditional healer) and traditional African dancing before returning to Johannesburg.
 
Note: The Sterkfontein Caves are currently closed, but when open you need to squat or crawl through two short sections, so are not suitable for anyone who suffers from claustrophobia or has mobility issues.
Day 5
This morning transfer 3.5-hours from Johannesburg to the beautiful malaria-free Waterberg Mountains, a UNESCO biosphere renowned for its wildlife as well as the diversity of its plants and birdlife.
 
After checking into your safari lodge, enjoy an open-top game drive where game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately. Hope to see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe as well as several of the Big Five, before dining under clear African skies.
Days 6 To 7
Rise early to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, and enjoy a thrilling shared open top safari with a lodge ranger in your malaria free private game reserve, with its many beautiful sandstone monoliths, ravines and waterfalls.
 
With numerous different species of mammals and reptiles in the park, you can hope to see several of the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard - as well as many other interesting species such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthog, baboon and much more. Bird watching is outstanding and you can see hippo and crocodiles in the dam.
  
Return to the lodge for breakfast and in the late afternoon enjoy another thrilling game drive with a lodge ranger. After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.
 
Note: Most lodges do not allow children < 6 on open top game drives.
Day 8
Today transfer 3.5-hours to Johannesburg Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Cape Town Airport and transferred to your hotel in this beautiful city, within sight of Table Mountain.
 
Check in and relax in your magnificent surroundings.
Day 9
Today is free for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.
 
To orientate yourself, we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.
 
Continue to trendy Camps Bay beach and the many attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (pay all entrance fees locally).
 
Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.
Day 10
This morning learn more about history of Cape Town on a half day private tour, starting with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope built by Jan Van Riebeeck, the Dutch governor who first colonised the area in 1652.
 
We continue to the nearby District Six Museum, which tells the story of human suffering caused by the forced removals of the apartheid era (closed on Sundays).
 
We then visit the Mandela Legacy Exhibition in the City Hall, from where Nelson Mandela first addressed the nation after his release from prison and drive past the Company Gardens and Houses of Parliament, where he served as South Africa's first black president.
 
Afterwards you will be dropped off at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Make your own way to the Clock Tower on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for the ferry to Robben Island, the infamous prison home of Nelson Mandela.
 
On your return look out for the bronze statutes of the four Nobel Laureates that grace the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront - founding ANC president Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and former apartheid president FW De Klerk, each of whom played a significant role in South Africa's transition to democracy. At the end of your day, make your way back to your hotel.
 
Note: You will need to take your passport for identification, when visiting Robben Island.
Day 11
At leisure to relax and explore more of the beautiful city of Cape Town independently.
 
Many optional activities are available in this beautiful city. You can visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned (advance booking essential in season) and explore the vibrant Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.
 
You can also take the Hop Off bus (Blue Route) to visit world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens or simply relax on golden Camps Bay Beach.
Day 12
Today enjoy a full day private tour to the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.
 
We start with a short boat trip from Hout Bay to view Cape Fur seals at Seal Island and continue via Chapman’s Peak Drive to spectacular Cape Point where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).
 
On the return journey we pass through naval Simons Town and visit the resident penguin colony at Boulders Beach. We also make a short stop at the world famous Kirstenbosch Gardens, nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and regarded as one the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world, before returning to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Day 13
Transfer to Cape Town Airport for your flight home.